TRs - Patchskiing, Spring, Summer, and Autumn 2015

[Vets]

Blackwood Canyon/Barker Pass/4th of July Bowl on June 15th with Dookey67.
We took 5 runs on 3 different patches.

Vets bootpacking up the first patch we skied:


Dookey67 taking another run on the first patch:


Vets on the second patch we skied:


Dookey67 on the rock slalom course:


Dookey67 hiking out for one more patch:


Dookey67 on the third patch:


We made the most of what little was left.

[Vets]

Highland Lakes on June 17th.
A day with the dogs, Penny and Makisha:

After waiting for me to gear up and bootpack up Penny and Makisha are ready for some skiing...

...a self-timer photo of Vets, Makisha and Penny...


Makisha and Penny ascend the looker's right of remnants of the Triangle Patch...

...and a self-timer of the descent...


Next, another self-timer on the Middle Triangle patch remnants:


On the Triangle Jr. patch Makisha is more determined and Penny is a bit more laid back...

...but they both like the feel of sprayed corn snow...

(Vets likes it too)

Indian Paintbrush:

Hiram Peak is in the background.

Remnants of the Triangle Patch below Hiram Peak:


We were all stoked.

[Vets]

Roundtop on June 22nd.
I headed up to the Method Man Patch for multiple runs and some self-timer photos.

First run...

(Those are not clouds in the distance. It is smoke from the Washington Fire near Markleeville.)

Second run...


Third run...


Sixth run...


Next, I saw this grasshopper who did not snatch a pebble from my hand:


Since the Masta Killah's Hidden Chambers of Death Patch was on the way out I skied a run there.

Looking down from the top of Masta Killah's Hidden Chambers of Death Patch complete with air pockets and a boulder slalom course...


A panorama of Roundtop on the hike out:

[Vets]

Sonora Pass West on June 24th.
Plan A was to head to Ski Lake on Leavitt Lake Road. Leavitt Lake Road was closed, so heading over to the other side of Sonora Pass was plan B. We found a patch of most likely avalanche debris near the hairpin turn of Highway 108...
,,,with waterfalls above and below the snow...


Looking up from the top...

...and looking down from the top (yes, those are rocks in the snow)...


First run...


Second run...


Makisha:


Penny:


There were many flowers on the hike out.. Here are some Columbine and Lupin:

Skier666 and Obscure Reference were making tracks in the corn snow here a month earlier.

Vets on the hike out through the lupin:

[Vets]

The October Patch on June 27th

The October Patch has been calling me from a distance for many days. On Saturday I listened to that calling.
While plodding my way up on the approach hike I was passed in a near blur by a snowboarder zipping up at the pace of a jogger.
After a polite "excuse me" I wondered where he might be heading. I found out when I arrived at the October Patch and saw that he had already made some tracks. PBR and POW = FUN recognized me and my bright green helmet.

Vets spraying corn snow on his first run:


Three PBR and POW = FUNs...

...and a closer look at one PBR and POW = FUN...


PBR and POW = FUN on another run:


Vets starting another run...

...and continuing...


Passing hikers give PBR and POW = FUN a standing ovation:


Our temporary graffiti on the October Patch:


When I was about to load my pack for the hike back I saw a ladybug:


Looking back at The Sisters on the hike out:

You can see the October Patch on the far right.

A cool wildflower:

Can you see the little insect making itself at home?

Looking up a creek on the hike out:


It was fun to finally meet and share some smooth corn snow with PBR and POW = FUN.

[Trace Hardslab]

Thanks for the cool thread Vets.

Medicine Bow Pk, WY 6/18





Geneva Pk, CO 6/27

[Vets]

Trace Hardslab,
Beautiful pictures!
I really like this first one:

[Vets]

Folger Peak on July 1st.
Another day with the dogs.
With highways 89 and 4 finally being reopened with containment of the Washington Fire near Markleeville, the plan was a recon mission to see if there was any snow left at all. The Triangle Patch below Hiram Peak looked more like a postage stamp sized rectangle. The Lower Creek Patch below Folger Peak became plan B.

Makisha and Penny are ready for some skiing:


Vets spraying some corn snow:


Penny:


Vets, Makisha and Penny:


Makisha and Penny:


The Lower Creek Patch below Folger Peak:


Wildflowers:


It started raining 5 minutes after we returned to the car. (I love it when a plan comes together.) There were mudslides on highways 4 and 89. Caltrans did a good job clearing these up. The Carson River looked a lot like the Chocolate River in the original movie Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

141st consecutive month skiing.

[Vets]

Roundtop on July 3rd.
Skiing the Method Man Patch.

Bella and Vets:


Powdrhound enjoying his 69th consecutive month skiing:


Vets takes another run:


Bella and Murphy watch Powdrhound start another run:


Vets threading the needle:


Bella and Murphy with Powdrhound on the Method Man Patch below Roundtop:

[Vets]

Dunderberg Peak on July 7th.

E.Y. (forgotten username) starting down the Strip Patch:


Vets on the Strip Patch (look closely and you will see the hail coming down):

After a run on the Strip Patch we hiked out in the hail.
It briefly cleared up long enough for us to take a run on Jack's Glacier.

Here is a link to a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G29aCtuc_Vc

Vets and E.Y. bootpacking up Jack's Glacier:


E.Y. threading the needle on the upper choke of Jack's Glacier:


Dookey67 looks back at what is left of Jack's Glacier:


More July turns and E.Y. and Dookey67 extended their consecutive month streaks. I believe that Dookey67 is up to 91 consecutive months.

[Vets]

Saddlebag Lake, July 11th
We were not stopped by rumors of there being no snow around Saddlebag Lake.
PBR and POW = FUN had boarded Conness Glacier a week earlier and found some snow. During the week the Tioga Pass area received about 6 inches of wet snow. Enough to close the pass for a few hours. While most of it had melted due to high temperatures and rain that followed, any remaining snow patches would hold onto the recent July snowfall for a while. Even though we were told that Kook Chute might be empty this year, we approached with blind faith.

Here is what we saw after hiking toward Cascade Lake:


Here is a close-up of of the recent fresh July snowfall:

Soft mini-snowballs covered the corn snow underneath.

Looking over at Conness Glacier from the top of Kook Chute:


Vets entering Kook Chute:


PBR and POW = FUN riding Kook Chute:


The remnants of recent snowfall can be seen on the peak in the background.

Vets skiing further down Kook Chute:



PBR and POW = FUN riding below Kook Chute:


After getting about 400 feet of vertical on Kook Chute we checked out one of the bonus chutes on the ridge on the hike back.

Vets skiing a "bonus" chute:


PBR and POW = FUN riding a "bonus" chute:

[~mikey b]

Way to FKN go bro

[skier666]

WARRIOR!!!!!!

[Vets]

Saddlebag Lake on July 14th.
Since the conditions were so good on the 11th a return trip was in order.

This time I was joined by Dookey67, here he is on the boat taxi:


Many tadpoles in one of the many ponds on the approach:


Without the doubt about the existence of snow, we opted for the dry approach to the top of Kook Chute.

Vets on the ridge below North Peak:


Vets boulder hopping:

Saddlebag Lake is in the background.

Vets traversing before the downclimb:


Vets on the downclimb:

(In a "normal" or average year the downclimb isn't as long.)

Vets on Kook Chute:


Dookey67 in Kook Chute:



Vets skiing lower Kook Chute:

(If you compare this to a photo from above on the 11th you can see how fast the snow is melting. The choke about halfway down could be melted out in just a week at this rate.)

After skiing Kook Chute we checked out a couple of 'bonus' chutes along the ridge on the way out.

Dookey67 in one of the 'bonus' chutes:

Vets in the same 'bonus' chute:


Vets approaches another 'bonus' chute:


Dookey67 on the bootpack:


Dookey67 enjoying the smoothest snow of the day:


A panorama on the hike out:

Some of the "bonus" chutes can be seen on the ridge. Lower Kook Chute can be seen below North Peak. Dookey67 is also there if you look closely.

Vets on the hike back:

Mt. Conness, Conness Glacier and North Peak can be seen in the background.

Looking across Saddlebag Lake:

Signs at the boat dock in the foreground. Mt. Dana in the background.

Video from the day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brDulTNqU5Q

Another great day. Got to get it while it lasts.

[Vets]

The October Patch on July 19th

PBR and POW = FUN and WestCoastPDR getting ready on the October Patch:


WestCoastPDR starts his first run with some interesting backlighting:


Is Vets shadowboxing on skis?



PBR and POW = FUN:



WestCoastPDR spraying frozen corn snow:


While on the approach for another run I looked down at my poles. The bee's knees:


Vets:


PBR and POW = FUN:


WestCoastPDR:


On the hike out we saw this marmot on a rock:


Hopefully the October Patch will last at least until August.

[Vets]

Dunderberg Peak on July 21st
Jack's "Glacier"
Our Destination:


Dookey67:


Will he attempt a pond skim?

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMoH...ature=youtu.be

Dookey67 taking another run:


Vets hiking to get to snow remnants on the other side. (Usually this snow is connected.)


Skiing in the rain, just skiing in the rain:


Dookey67 taking his boots off and looking back at what is left of Jack's "Glacier":

[~mikey b]

Vibes...

[splat]

Love this shot lots.
Call me. Possible hood trip planned.

[Vets]

Leavitt Lake on July 22nd.
I headed up to Leavitt Lake with Mrs. Vets and our dogs Makisha and Penny.

A selfie above Leavitt Lake before my first run:


Pea-sized hail fell before and during my second run:


My second run:



I had some company on my third run.
Vets and Penny making some tracks:


Vets:


Vets and Makisha:


Is Vets guilty of snow graffiti?


Leavitt Lake panorama:


A closer look:


Bat-shaped remnants of the North America Patch:

[Vets]

The October Patch on July 24th.
We had a four dog ski day (not a three dog night.)

Hazel watches Kierra shed some water:


Makisha:


Hazel trying to convince Skibuff into converting his backpack into dog carry mode:


Penny:


Hazel looks back while Kierra, Makisha and Penny check out the snow:


Kierra:


Penny is excited to be skiing with Vets:


Skibuff spraying corn snow with Hazel and Kierra in pursuit:


The dogs were stoked and it looks like the October Patch should make it into August.

[Vets]

Dana Lakes on July 26th.

Having seen snow recently around Mount Dana from Saddlebag Lake, PBR and POW = FUN and I went on a snow recon mission that started at Tioga Lake. Hiking and fishing websites spoke of a two and a half mile hike to the first of four Dana Lakes. The approach felt longer and the trail seemed to evaporate the further we ventured out.

We hiked up above the first lake. Here is our view:

Mount Dana and what is left of Dana Couloir can be seen just over the ridge on the left. Our closer view showed disconnected snow at the top and bottom of Dana Couloir and the snowfield looked pretty icy and dirty with rock fall. We decided against hiking even further over two more scree covered ridges. The patch on the right above the lake looked pretty good from a distance. However, as we got closer, it seemed smaller and sideways. The diagonal patch near the center left of this photo looked like a better option.

We had a loose rock and boulder scramble up to the snow patch.
At the top of the patch we could see all four Dana Lakes:


Vets:


PBR and POW = FUN:



Vets:



Vets hiking out/boulder hopping below the patch:


Flowers and waterfalls on the hike out:

[Vets]

Dunderberg Peak on July 28th.
After getting rained/sleeted/hailed on the last two times we skied Dunderberg (July 21st and July 7th) we thought about trying to ski there on a sunny day for a change. We could see how the snow was holding up and ski a couple of different patches.

Our first destination, Hidden "Glacier":

(The snow usually goes from above the upper patch all the way down to the pond at the bottom of the bowl.)

Dookey67:

and Dookey67s:


Vets:



Since the snow was so smooth, we decided to take some more laps. (5 each)

Dookey67:


Vets:


Vets hiking out from Hidden "Glacier":


Dookey67 skiing the suncups and runnels on the Heart Patch:


Vets:


After two laps here we headed out.
Dookey67 hiking out from the Heart Patch:


I saw a little dragonfly on the hike out:


On the hike out we got a view of Jack's "Glacier" remnants:


Dunderberg should make it into August.

[skier666]

Sad to see that glacier disappear...

[Vets]

The October Patch on August 2nd.
We had a crew of five headed to the October Patch on August 2nd to keep our consecutive months streaks alive.
The patchskiing party included PBR and POW = FUN, Powdrhoud, Skibuff, WestCoastPowder, and Vets.

The October Patch:


PBR and POW = FUN (month 58):



Two views of Powdrhound (month 70) spraying the cameraman:



Skibuff (month 47):



WestCoastPowder (month 20) leaving a corn snow contrail:

then a cleaner acceleration:


Vets (month 142):



After we each took five runs on the October Patch we saw two skiers, a father and son head up for their August turns.

Tom (month 250):


Oliver (month 81):


The question for the October Patch is "Will I Ski You In September?"

We'll see, likely to return there on upcoming weekends in August just because the snow and turns felt pretty good.

[Vets]

The October Patch, August 8th
PBR and POW = FUN and I made a return trip to the October Patch for a snow survey recon mission.
Here is what we found:

Somewhat smaller than a week ago, but still worthwhile.

Vets first run:


PBR and POW = FUN:




Vets spraying corn:


PBR and POW = FUN starts another run:


We had a pika visit us during our lunch break:


PBR and POW = FUN making a post-lunch run:


Might need to get up there again while it lasts. I've seen photos from some more recent days. The patch is getting narrower.